Fruit delivery apparatus



Sept. 12, 1950 F. R01-TIER FRUIT DELIVERY. APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet lFiled March 14, 1946 NIWU iiiiiiii@ Sept. 12, 1950 F. ROTTIER FRUITDELIVERY APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 14, 1946 Patented Sept.12, 1950 2,521,998 ritmi.' DELIVERY APPARATUS Frank Rottier, Lansing,Ill., assigner to Piowaty- Bergart Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporationof Illinois Application March 14, 1946, Serial N o. 654,391

This invention relates to segregating apparatus and method and isparticularly useful for collecting, in pre-determined amounts forpackaging, produce such as tangerines, onions, potatoes, and otherproducts or articles. ticularly applicable to objects of 'generallyglobular form, but will be found useful in the handling of other typesof objects or articles.

An object of the invention is to provide a means and method ofcollecting in segregated and preto provide a method and automaticmechanism for carrying objects through a continuous path so that theobjects are caused tov pass by spaced receptacles equipped withautomatic weighing devices so that the receptacles are each iilled withY the objects to a pre-determined Weight and maintained ready forenclosure by packages, automatic con-trol means being provided for theen trances to the receptacles and for signaling the iilling of thereceptacles. and advantages will appear as the speciiication proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by theaccompanying drawing, in

which: y

Figure 1 is a plan view of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, aside view in elevation; Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view, the sectionbeing taken as indicated at line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a brokendetailed plan view of a portion of the conveyor and diversion apparatusand showing a modified form of the invention; Fig'. 5, a verticalsectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line -5 .of Fig.4; and Fig. 6, a broken side view in elevation of the apparatus adjacentone of the receptacles or collectors.`

The apparatus comprises mainly a continuous conveyor by means of whichthe produce or other objects are carried along a path parallel with Theinvention is par- 5 Claims. (Cl. Hi8- 39) Other speciiic objects i vtospaced receptacles or collectors, Means are prol vided for diverting aportion of the produce as it travels into the receptacles where theproduce is automatically weighed. As soon as a collector has receivedits quota, by weight, entrance thereto is cut oli and the producetravels on tothe next collector. Means are provided for returning'thepro;v

duce which is not employed in the filling of the receptacles back to thebeginning so that such produce may be carried through the cycle again.The apparatus further provides means for recycling produce or objects atpoints between the receptacles and before the end of the line ofreceptacles is reached.` The receptacles are equipped with means forcarrying packages and for quickly filling the packages Light signalsindicate the completion of the iilling of the receptacles.

'In the illustration given, A designates a frame; B, a continuousconveyor; C, diversion means; D, receptaclesequipped with automaticWeighing devices;` E, return chutes; and, F, conveyor means forreturning produce to the initial starting point on the continuousconveyor B.

- The'frame `A may be of any suitable construction. In the illustrationgiven, it comprises standards IU providing a bed II for the upperportion of'the conveyor belt B and a trough I2 for the lower portion ofthe belt B. The frame A also provides side walls I 3 for the upperportion of the belt conveyor B so as to maintain produce thereon`. Atspaced intervals, as indicated at I4, (Fig. 6) side wall I3 isinterrupted on one side to provide outlet ports for the flow of producetherethrough. The outlets I4 are equipped with gate guides I5 in whichis mounted a gate I6 adapted to beraised by a solenoid II receiving theplunger vIS'carrying4 the gate I6. When the solenoid II is actuated,gate I6 is thus raised and maintained in raised position until solenoidI'I is de-energized. The solenoid I'I is supported by a tower I9 carriedby the horizontal wall 2D on wall I3. A signal light 2| is also carriedby the tower I9 and serves to indicate the completion of the fillingoperation, as later described.

The conveyor B may be of any suitable construction. In thev illustrationgiven, it comprises a 'continuous belt mounted upon rollers 22,supported at each end of the frame A. The belt B substantially lills thespace between the side walls I3 on bed I I and also substantially fillsthe space between the side Walls :of trough I2. The roller .22 at oneend is mountedV upon an idler shaft 23 and at the other end is mountedupon a drive shaft 24. Drive shaft 24 is equipped with a pulley Wheel25.

Any suitable means for driving the pulley wheel 25 maybe employed. Inthe illustration given best in Fi`g.`2, mot'or 26 drives through belt 2la pulley 28.' Pulley 28 drives through belt 29 a multiple drive-pulley25.

The diversion mechanism C comprises a plurality of structures. A baille32 extending over the conveyor belt B deflects the produce or otherobjects toward the pivoted deflector member 33. The member 33 is curvedat its rear portion so as to deflect produce toward the aperture I4 inthe side wall I3. A spring 34 normally maintains the member 33 in theposition illustrated, but permits it to yield under pressure fromproduce. A metal strap 35 secured to the horizontal wall 20 extendsinwardly over the belt B and' carries a hinge 36 supporting thedei-lectorrnember 33. Spe-ced rearwardly of the structures 33 and 35 isa similar but larger deector 31 which is similarly supported upon across bar 38 and normally urged inwardly by spring 39. To the rear ofthe member 31 is a similar but still larger delector 4B which issupported upon cross beam 4| and normally urged inwardly by spring 42.At this point, a second transverse guide 43, carriedv by pivot 44,swings inwardly toward the post 45Y and is releasably held in positionby spring. It will be noted that the springs heretofore mentioned aresecured to the members at elevated points above the path of the produce.Behind the deflector guide 43 is a second series of deflectors similarto the members 33, 31 and 40 and of corresponding sizes.

Ati the extreme rear of the conveyor B is a V-shaped deector 41 whichdiverts the produce in two directions and toward the rear outlets E.

Supported upon the standardV Ill of the frame A is a weigh arm 48mounted upon a pivot rod 49A carried by a bracket I] upon the standardIII, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 6 The weigh arm 48 carries at oneend a weight 5| which is adjustable along the arm 48. The weigh arm ispreferablyformed of two parts and on the side opposite the weight 5I theparts are separated to form a parallel frame 52 which extends above thecircular Aopening of the collector 53. The collector 53' is suspendedupon the arm 48 by means of hooks 54 which permit collectors of varyingsizes to be readily attached to the ring portion 52' of weigh arm 48.The weigh arm 48 beyond the circular portion 52 is brought together toform a stop extension 55. The extension 55 is received within the stopmembers 56. A treadle member 51 is provided for holding the end 55`rigid or in 'lower position while the operator is manipulating theclosure 6I in emptying the contents of the bucket. Spring 53 normallyurges the member' 51 upwardly. Mounted upon the side Wall structure I3and slightly above the Weight 5| is a spring contact member 59 which.when the Weigh arm moves upwardly and engages it, closes a cir'- cuit'in`which the solenoid I1 and signal light 2| are mounted. When the weigharm 48 swings clockwise, the contact is broken and the solenoid -I 1 andsignal light 2| become inoperative.

The collector vessel 53 may be of any suitable construction. In theillustration given, it comprises a cylindrical body equipped with a aredneck portion Ell. The bottom of the collector 53 is normally closed by amovable closure member 6I mounted upon pivot E2 fixed to the vessel 53.The bottom member 3| is provided on one side with a sleeve 63, thesleeve being substantially the same in diameter as the bottom ofcollector 53. Thus, when a package is placed upon the sleeve B3 and thebottom 6I is swung inwardly to bring the sleeve S3 into alignment withthe bottom of collector 53, the contents of collector 53 will ilow intothe package.

The return conduits E may be of any suitable construction. In theillustration shown best in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, I provide chutes 64 whichreceive the produce diverted by the V-shaped guide 41 and lead itdownwardly into the trough I2 and upon the lower portion of the conveyorB, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. It will be understood that otherconduits for returning the produce to the trough I2 may be employed andany suitable number of such return conduits may be placed along the sidewall I3. As shown more clearly in Fig. 4, I provide laterally extendingoutlet leading to a circular chute G6 that extends downwardly and opensinto the trough I2. The structures E5 and E6 may be omitted or, ifdesired, structures like 65 and B6 may be interposed behind each of thevessels D.

When the produce is carried back in trough I2 by the lower portion ofconveyor B, I provide a transverse deector or guide 51 which diverts thereturning produce laterally into the chute 68; From chute 63- theproduce drops into a hopper yfrom. whence it may be returned to theoriginal hopper or carried by an elevator belt 69 upwardly to a chute 18and thus in turn delivers the produce again to the conveyor B. The4apparatus F, thus includes the chutes 68 and 10 and the paddle-equippedbelt G9, If desired, the conveyor F may be spaced more to the left ofthe structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so as to deposit the returnedobjects at a point farther along on the belt B, and thus away from anynew objects deposited on belt B. The belt conveyor 63 may be driven by apulley 'II which engages the multiple pulley 3|), as shown more clearlyin Fig. 2.

Opposite the conveyor F is a guide 12 extending over belt B and leadingto an outlet 13. .The outlet or chute I3 opens into a conduit fordefective: produce.

Operation In the operation of the apparatusy produce, such astangerines, onions, potatoes, or any other form oi object or articlewhich is to-be collected for packaging, is fed to the conveyor B at apoint near the guide 12. An operator is stationedl at this point andpicks out any defectiveproduce or objects as they are moved Vpast himand he deposits them withinthe guide 'I2 so that they will be deliveredto the chute 13 and conduit 14 for defective produce or objects. Theremaining objects pass on and are proportionately deflected by the guidemember 32 `toward the members 33, 31 and 40. The produce entering thesmaller deflector or enclosure 33 are led through the aperture I4 inwall I3 and into the receptacle 53. When the receptacle 53 has receiveda predetermined amount of the objects, the weight thereof will tilt theweigh arm 48 and bring the arm against the contact member 5S, thusclosing the circuits in which thesolenoid I1 and signal light 2| arelocated. The solenoid I1 raises the gate I6 and closes the aperture I4and, at the same time, the signal light 2| indicates the completionl ofthe lling of the receptacle 53. The weight 5I may beadjusted along thearm 48 to control the desired quantity of produce or other productscollected within receptacle 53. The receptacle or bucket 53 be removedand a bucket of greater or lesser size substituted therefor through theuse of hooks 54. Thus, the apparatus is readily adaptable to collectdifferent types of objects and to permit the collection of varyingamounts. of ,such Objects for, packaging.

annees jAfter thegate has been closed forfthe iirst receptaclecontrolled bythe ldeector 33 the vproduce carried by belt B tends toforce open" the member33 and the produce then nows over into the nextenclosure 3,1.` The process thus' continues; after eachvessel is lled,thedeflector becomes inoperative yand the produce owson to llthe nextcollector. Y j

The remaining produce or'other objects reach ing the deiiector guide 41is diverted laterally intothe return ,conduit 64 and thus led down intothe chute l2 below where conveyorB returns the produceto the deflectorEl near the'for w ard end of the machine. Deiiector or vgui'defi'lcausesl vthe produce to flowA `laterally into the chutel8 and thenceinto the elevator 6&2.,l The produce leavingf the elevator @il isdischarged through shute 10 on to the top portionpf vendless conveyor BWhere it may be recycled yalong the course already described. Thereisthus an automatic handling bythe conveyor of all of the produce orother objects fedtothe conveyor. The machine will eventually collectalll of the material fed to it in the desired amounts and will signalthe lling of the receptacles.

The only manual operations arethose of -removing vdefective objects andplacing packages or sacks upon sleeves 63- and the operation. of themovable bottomf 61 for they filling` oi?y vvthe sacks or bags or otherpackaging.

While in thefforegoing specincatiorrl have set forth a description ofone embodiment of the invention in considerable detail, it willbeunderstood thatI such details may be varied widely by those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for delivering objects -in predetermined Quantitiesfor packaging, a frame, afbelt conveyor mounted in saidframe to providean upper belt portion and a lower vbelt vportion, each having its topsurface adapted to carry objects,` a side wall extending along one sideof thetop 'surface of the upper belt portion, lateral discharge openingsin'said side wall; receptacles 'supported in alignment withsaiddischarge openings to receive objects passedtherethrough, gates forclosing said dischargeopenings. means actuatedvby each ofsaidre'cepta'cles when -the same are lled beyond a predetermined extentfor raisins.r said gates to close said discharge ports, yieldablediverter arms supported by said frame over the top surface of said topbelt portion and in spacedlongitudinal relation to each other fordiverting objects from said belt toward said lateral ports by yieldingto permit the passage of said objects with said belt when said dischargeports are closed by said gates, a diverter bar eX- tending across thetop surface of said upper belt portion for diverting objects passingsaid diverter arms to a point laterally of said belt, a chute fordirecting said objects downwardly onto the top surface of the beltportion below, a second diverter bar extending across the top surface ofthe lower belt portion toward the end of the belt opposite said chute,and an elevator receiving the objects diverted by said last-mentioneddiverter bar and for conveying said returned objects to the top surfaceof the upper belt portion above said last-mentioned diverter bar.

2. In an apparatus for delivering objects in predetermined quantitiesfor packaging, a frame, a belt conveyor mounted in said frame to providean upper belt portion and a lower belt portion, each having its topsurface adapted to carry 6 objects, aside wall extending rvalong one'side of. the top surface of the upper belt portion, lateral dischargeopenings in said side wall, receptacles supported in alignment with saiddischarge open--v ings to receive objects passed therethrough, gates forclosing said discharge openings, means actuated by each of saidreceptacles when the same are lled beyond a predetermined extent forraising said gates to close said discharge ports, yieldable diverterarms supported by said frame over the top surface of said top beltportion and in spaced longitudinal relation to each other for divertingobjects from said belt toward said lateral ports by yielding to permitthe passage of said objects with said belt when said discharge ports areclosed by said gates, a diverter bar ex tending across the top surfaceof said upper'belt portion for diverting objects passing said diverterarms to a point laterally of said belt, a chute for. directing saidobjects downwardly onto the top surface of the lbelt portion below, asecond diverter bar extending across the top surface ofthe lower beltportion towardthe end of the belt opposite said chute, and an elevatorreceiving the objects diverted by said last-mentioned diverter bar andfor conveying said returned obejcts to the top surface of the` upperbelt portion above said last-mentioned diverter bar, said diverter barextending across the top surface of the upper belt portion beingsubstantially V-shaped and serving to direct objects to each side of thebelt and said chute extending from both sides of .the belt for directingsaid objects onto `each sideof the top surface of the belt below. l

43. In an apparatus for delivering objects in predetermined quantitiesfor packaging, a frame, a belt conveyor mounted in said frame to providevan upper belt portion and a lower belt portion, each having its topsurface adapted to 4carry objects, a side wall extending along one sideof the top surface of the upper belt portion, lateral discharge openingsin said side wall, receptacles supported in alignment with saiddischarge openings to receiveobjects passed therethrough, gates forclosing said discharge openings, means actuated by each of saidreceptacles when the same are filled beyond a predeterminedextent forraising said gates to close said discharge ports, yieldable diverterarms supported by saidfrarne over the top surface of said top beltportion and in spaced longitudinal relation to each other for divertingobjects from said belt toward said lateral ports by yielding to permitthe passage of said objects with said belt when said discharge ports areclosed by said gates, a diverter arm extending across the tcp surface ofsaid upper belt portion for diverting objects passing said diverter armsto a point laterally of said belt, a chute for directing said objectsdownwardly onto the top surface of the belt portion below, a seconddiverter bar extending across the top surface of the lower belt portiontoward the end of the belt opposite said chute, an elevator receivingthe objects diverted by said last-mentioned diverter bar and forconveying said returned objects to the top surface of the upper beltportion above said last-mentioned diverter bar, and deflector bladescooperating with said diverter arms for directing objects on one side ofsaid belt toward said diverter arms.

` 4. In an apparatus for delivering objects in predetermined quantitiesfor packaging, a frame, an endless belt mounted therein to provide afiat upper portion adapted to receive objects on its top surface and alower return portion spaced from said upper portion-Tand adapted toreturn objects, means for moving said belt, side walls extending alongthe sides of the upper belt portion, discharge ports in one of said sidewalls, receptacles supported in alignment with said discharge ports,gates controlling said discharge ports, means actuated by the iilling ofthe container to a predetermined extent for raising said gates, postsextending from said side walls over said top surface of the belt and tovarying distances over the belt, diverter arms pivoted to said posts andextending inwardly to divert objects through said discharge ports,yieldable spring means for urging said diverter arms into said divertingpositions, said diverter arms yielding when said discharge ports areclosed to permit the passage of objects with said belt longitudinally ofsaid frame, deilector blades secured to the side wall of said frameopposite said side wall having said discharge ports, a diverter barsupported by said frame over one end of said belt and having .laterallyand rearwardly extending portions for diverting objects to either sideof said belt after the same have passed said defiector blades anddiverter arms, a chute for receiving said diverted objects and directingthem downwardly and onto the top surface of the lower belt portion, asecond diverter` bar extending across the lower belt portion at the endopposite the end at which said rst diverter bar is located, and anelevator aligned with said second diverter bar for receiving objectsreturned by said lower belt portion and for depositing the same upon thetop surface of the upper belt portion ahead of said diverter arms. A

5. In an apparatus for delivering objects in predetermined quantitiesfor packaging, a frame, an endless belt mounted therein to provide aflat upper portion adapted to receive objects on its top surface and a,lower return portion spaced from said upper portion and adapted toreturn objects, means for moving said belt, side walls extending alongthe sides of the upper belt portion, discharge ports in one of said sidewalls, receptacles supported in alignment with said discharge ports,gates controlling said discharge ports, means actuated by the filling ofthe container to a predetermined extent for raising said gates, postsextending from said side walls over said top surface of the belt and tovaryingl dis- 8 tanees over the belt, diverterarms pivoted to said postsand extending inwardly to divert objects through said discharge ports,yieldablepspring means for urging said diverter arms into said divertingpositions, said diverter arms yielding whenfsaid discharge ports areclosed to permit the passage of objects with said belt longitudinally ofsaid frame, deflector blades secured to the side wall of said frameopposite said side wall having said discharge ports, a diverter barsupported Vby said frame over one end of said belt and havinglaterallyand rearwardly extending portions for diverting objects to either sideof said belt after the same have passed said deflector blades anddiverter arms, a chute for receiving said diverted objects and directingthem downwardly and onto the top surface of the lower belt portion, asecond diverter bar extending across the lower belt portion at the endopposite the end at which said rst diverter bar is located, an elevatoraligned with said second diverter bar for receiving objects returned bysaid lower belt portion and for depositing the same upon the top surfaceof the upper belt portion ahead of said diverter arms, a guide extendingover the top surface of the upper belt portion and above said seconddiverter bar for guiding the returned objects inwardly, and aV chutecommunicating with the belt within said guide adapted to receive objectsremoved by the operator from the belt and placed laterally of saidguide.

FRANK ROTTIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Nowak Aug. 24, 1943

